Conductor clamping assembly



April 1969 E. LINDSEY 3,437,742

CONDUCTOR CLAMP ING AS SEMBLY Filed April 10, 1967 4. 6 (fit/255V INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,437,742 CONDUCTOR .CLAMPING ASSEMBLY L. E. Lindsey, 222 Vista Ave., Pasadena, Calif. 91107 Filed Apr. 10, 1967, Ser. No. 629,609

Int. Cl. H01b 17/16 US. Cl. 174-169 12 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A conductor clamp assembly for use at the outer end of a generally horizontally supported pole line insulator and comprising an L-shaped main body pivotable about the opposite ends of its vertical leg and having a captive clamping jaw overlying an upwardly opening conductor seating channel. When loosened, the jaw pivots to one side of the seating channel and tilts to a position clear thereof.

This invention relates to a conductor clamping assembly and more particularly to an improved, rugged versatile conductor clamp as well as to the combination of this clamp with a high tension insulator of the type adapted to be mounted cantilever fashion from the side of a power line pole, or the like. In certain applications it is most desirable that a conductor clamp have limited pivotal movement about a vertical axis crosswise of the end of the insulator as, for example, when located at a bend in the line or in areas subject to wind stresses. To meet these and the like needs encountered in the construction and operation of high tension power lines, there is provided by this invention a power conductor clamp specially designed for pivotal movement about a vertical axis at the outer end of a cantilever supported insulator. The clamp is secured to the insulator by a single cap screw adjustable from the lower end or ground level and extending into the lower end of the main body and cooperating with a boss extending into a similar opening at the upper end to support the clamp for limited pivotal movement. The clamping jaw is threadedly supported at the upper end of a vertical-1y arranged cap screw having its head projecting downwardly for convenience in operating the same. Preferably the threads at the upper end of the cap screw are headed over so as to interlock with the threaded opening through the clamping jaw. In consequence, when these threads ar jammed together the bolt can be turned to rotate the clamping jaw between its clamping and nonclamping position. In the latter position it lies completely outside the channel occupied by the conductor.

It is accordingly, a primary object of the present in vention to provide an improved rugged clamping assembly for pivotal support at the outer end of an insulator mounted cantilever-fashion from the side of a pole.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a unitary conductor clamping assembly adapted to be pivotally supported crosswise of the end cap of conventional high tension insulators.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a conductor clamp for high tension power lines having a minimum number of rugged easily operated components and featuring a mounting screw as well as a jaw-operating screw each positioned for convenient manipulation from the lower side thereof by workmen positioned on a pole or on the ground.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved conductor clamp supportable about a vertical pivot at the outer end of an insulator and including a conductor clamp easily manipulatable from a distance to occupy either a conductor clamping position, or a nonclamping position lying completely outside the conductor seating channel.

3,437,742 Patented Apr. 8, 1969 These and other more specific objects will appear upon reading the following specification and claims and upon considering in connection therewith the attached drawing to which they relate.

Referring now to the drawing in which a preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated.

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary side view of a horizontally supported insulator mounting one preferred embodiment of the invention conductor clamp;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the conductor per se;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 on FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 but showing the clamp loosened and rotated to its open position.

Referring more particularly to FIGURE 1 there is shown a typical pole line installation utilizing a conductor clamping assembly designated generally 10 featured by this invention. Insulator 11 is of a generally conventional type suitably secured cantilever fashion to the side of a pole. Suitably secured to the outer end of insulator 11 is a C-shaped mounting bracket 12. Projecting toward one another in vertical alignment from the open end of this C-clamp is a boss 15 and a cap screw 16 having a tapered end.

Clamping assembly proper 10 comprises a hollow main body 18 which is generally cross shaped including a vertically disposed leg 19 and a horizontally disposed channel shaped conductor seating leg 20. The main body of vertically disposed leg 19 may be appropriately described as L-shaped including the vertical leg 19 and a horizontally projecting leg 21 underlying and supporting the conductor seating channel portion 20. Bracket leg 21 projects outwardly beyond the outer side walls 23 of the conductor seating channel and is formed with an upwardly flaring opening 24 (FIGURES 3, 4) through which the jaw clamping cap screw 25 loosely fits. A conductor clamping jaw 26 has a threaded opening 27 mating with the threads of cap screw 25.

The opposite ends of vertical leg 12 are formed with aligned openings 15' and 16' having a loose fit with boss 1'5 and the upper end of cap screw 16. It will be understood that this boss and cap screw provide a pair of aligned pintles about the vertical axis of which the conductor clamp itself has limited pivotal movement.

The right hand side wall 23 of the conductor seating channel is notched at 28 to accommodate the clamping jaw. This jaw preferably has extensions 27 projecting lengthwise ofthe seating channel and beyond the lateral edges of notch 28 in the manner made clear by FIGURE 2. These ears therefore will be understood as interlocking with side wall 23 of the channel to cause the jaw to move in a vertical path while in clamping position within the channel thereby to avoid undue strain on the cap screw or on the main body portion through which the screw passes. It will also be understood that notch 28 is sufiiciently wide to receive the outer end of clamping jaw 26 freely when the latter is rotated to its nonclamping position as shown in FIGURE 4.

After the clamping jaw has been assembled to the cap screw the end of its thread is preferably upset as indicated at 30 to prevent unthreading of the cap screw from clamp the clamping jaw. In addition, this upsetting of the threads jammed against the threads jaw thread. The operating tool is then elevated to lift the screw and jaw assembly until the latter is free of the edges of notch 28. Thereupon the tool may be rotated to rotate the jammed screw and jaw 26 through one-half a turn whereupon the jaws usually settle to a nonclamping position of rest with portions of the jaw firmly seated between the sides of notch 28.

After the conductor has been serviced or placed in the seating channel the operator restores the tool over the end of cap screw 25 and reverses the operation to return the jaw to its normal clamping position shown in FIG- URE 1. The wrench may now be used to release the cap screw from its jammed position against the jaw since the engagement of the jaw with the sides of notch 28 prevent it from turning. Further wrenching serves to tighten the jaw rigidly against a conductor seated in channel 20.

Should it be desirable for any reason to remove clamping assembly from the insulator, this is accomplished even while the power conductor is live, by first loosening cap screw 25 and rotating the clamping jaw to its unclamped position. Thereafter, cap screw 16 is retracted until the main body of the clamp can be maneuvered free of boss 15. It will be understood that cap screw 16 preferably has a snug turning fit with the supporting threads in bracket 14.

While the particular conductor clamping assembly herein shown and disclosed in detail is fully capable of attaining the objects and providing the advantages hereinbefore stated, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative of the presently preferred embodiments of the invention and that no limitations are intended to the details of construction or design herein shown other than as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An article of manufacture comprising a power line conductor clamp adapted to be pivotally supported for limited movement about a vertical axis at the outer end of a cantilever mounted insulator, said clamp having a cross-shaped main body including a vertical leg offset to one side of an integral upwardly opening horizontally disposed channel-shaped conductor seating leg, means at the opposite ends of said vertical leg adapted to mate with complementally shaped pivot means at the outer end of an insulator, and adjustable clamping jaw means mounted on said conductor seating leg and cooperable therewith to anchor a conductor within said channel shaped seating leg.

2. An article as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said vertical leg is hollow and includes mounting sockets in the upper and lower ends thereof.

3. An article as defined in claim 1 characterized in that said clamping jaw means includes a single clamping jaw and a single cap screw threaded into an opening at the outer end of said jaw, and said cap screw extending vertically through an opening adjacent the side of said channel-shaped leg which is remote from said vertical leg.

4. An article of manufacture as defined in claim 3 characterized in that a thread at the outer end of said cap screw is upset after assembly to said clamping jaw whereby mating threads of said jaw can be jammed lightly against said upset thread and whereby when so jammed said cap screw is manipulatable by a workman to rotate said jaw one-half revolution to a nonclamping position outside said conductor seat and whereby the jaw is later returnable to its conductor clamping position.

5. In combination, an insulator adapted to be mounted cantilever-fashion, on the side of an upright pole, bracket means secured to the outer end of said insulator having substantially vertically aligned means for supporting a conductor clamp assembly therebetween for pivotal movement about a generally vertical axis, a conductor clamp assembly socketed between said aligned means comprising a one-piece main body provided with a elongated channel-shaped conductor seat extending crosswise thereof with its open side facing away from the lower end and toward the upper socketed end of said conductor clamp assembly, and adjustable clamping jaw means movably supported along one side of said conductor seat with a portion of the jaw extending across the open side of said channel and movable vertically toward and away from the open side of the channel.

6. The combination defined in claim 5 characterized in that said main body is hollow.

7. The combination defined in claim 5 characterized in that said main body is generally L-shaped and includes a horizontal leg underlying said channel-shaped conductor seat.

8. The combination defined in claim 7 characterized in that said main body and the horizontal leg thereof are hollow throughout the major portions thereof.

9. The combination defined in claim 7 characterized in that said horizontal leg projects laterally beyond the far side of said channel shaped seat, vertical opening through the outer end of said horizontal leg, the side wall of said channel-shaped seat being notched laterally of said opening, and said clamping jaw being threaded to the upper end of a cap screw extending upwardly through said opening.

10. The combination defined in claim 9 characterized in that said clamping jaw and cap screw can be manipulated within said notch to selectively occupy either a conductor clamping position or a nonclamping position wherein said jaw is rotated one-half revolution from its clamping position and lies substantially clear of the channel for the conductor.

11. The combination defined in claim 10 characterized in that said clamping jaw is vertically shiftable along said notch and cooperates with the edges thereof to prevent rotation of the jaw about the cap screw when the jaw is seated between said edges, and said jaw being rotatable between the clamping and nonclamping positions thereof only when elevated above the edges of said notch.

12. The combination defined in claim 5 characterized in that the upper and lower ends of said main body are formed with circular openings for seating said pivot means.

References Cited German printed application No. 1,042,692, published Nov. 6, 1958, detalante.

LARAMIE E. ASKIN, Primary Examiner.

, US. Cl. X.R. 24135; 248 

